Chapter 2: Unexpected Run-In

Lunaday, Rem-Decan 24, ND 2018

It was mid-day when the ferry arrived at the Malkuthian port in Chesedonia. As the passengers on board started to descend from the ship, one of the other passengers was helping a somewhat green-looking black-haired woman down onto solid ground.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay, ma'am?" a young teenager asked, looking at the woman's strange complexion. "The seasickness will be around for a little bit..."

"I-I'm fine...thank you," she managed to reply without sounding fully rude. On this trip, after all, she wasn't traveling as a noblewoman.

"Okay, then...the Inn on this side of the border is straight ahead, and then up. Near the middle of the border is the head of the Merchant's Guild, Aston. He lives there. If you're looking to start a business, go see him."

"Thanks," she replied, then tried to stand on her own, instead of leaning on the boy. After a moment of not wobbling or tumbling, she took a deeper breath and started off for Aston's residence.

The sea-sick woman gradually became less green-toned as she walked down the sand-filled street.

This place...it's definitely different. It's so full of sand, not a paved street in sight. How can the people stand things like this? I bet there isn't a fountain anywhere in sight.

When she looked to her left, she saw two entranceways...and both were paved in gleaming, white stone.

Okay, so there is a paved street here.

She walked through one of the entrances, and went up the right-hand stairway. As she looked up, she was treated to the sight of the moon, suspended high in the blue sky, above the yellow of the lower-sky and desert. Right above the moon was faint traces of what she had learned was the fon belt.

"My...what a sight," she whispered, "It's beautiful."

After gazing at the moon and fon belt for a few moments longer, the woman turned to the doors and entered.

One of the servants turned to the woman and asked, "Um...may I help you with something?"

"Yes," she said, "I would speak with Astor."

"U-um, I think the master is busy with important matters...running the city and such. Perhaps you should return another time...?"

That irritated her. She was used to this sort of reply. After all, her father used it a lot when he didn't want to be bother by urchins and the common folk.

"What would you take me for?" she replied, "A simple commoner? I am on the Emperor's business. Now, go fetch your master, at once!"

As soon as she had uttered the words, she winced.

So much for acting like an ordinary woman...

"Hmmm? What's this about...?" she heard a nasally voice ask from behind one of the doors.

As that door opened, she could see a man dressed in rather gaudy (though apropos for the desert) clothing. He had a mustache and a large, red nose.

"S-sir, this woman insists on seeing you, knowing that you're busy--"

"Oh, it's quite all right. Come in, come in, ma'am, and follow me."

She nodded and bowed respectfully, then followed the strange-looking little man.

Once they arrived at Aston's office, he offered a seat to her.

"Now...may I ask what brings you here, and so urgently?"

She replied, "Ahh, you must be Astor. I have a missive for you, from Emperor Peony the Ninth of Malkuth."

He put his hand out and she gently placed the appropriate letter in it. He opened it and began reading it carefully.

"Ohhh...I see, I see!"

"Hm?"

"I assume you know the letter's contents?"

"You would assume falsely."

He nodded and handed the letter to her.

"My, my," she murmured as she read it, "He's certainly a crafty one, the Emperor is."

"I'll set up arrangements at the Inn, Lady Reiner—oops, I mean Miss Cassa. Can't have the people knowing who you are," he spoke as soon as she gave the letter back to him. "I'll also cover the cost. I suggest that in the morning, you go to the Kimlasca consulate and seek passage on a ship to Baticul."

"That's kind of you, but won't my--"

"Oh, don't you worry about the consulate. I'll have a word with the consul. You go ahead and get some food and rest for now."

"Thank you very much," she said as she stood and bowed to him.

"Aww, no need to bow to me, L—Miss Cassa. I am a simple merchant after all. Hee hee hee hee!"

As she walked out of the mansion, Cassa sighed and shook her head.

"Simple merchant, indeed."

00000

The black-haired woman shook her head again, muttering to herself about a certain Emperor, as she entered the Inn that was on the Malkuthian side of the border. Personally, she didn't care for the loud noise of the market so close by. However, she had learned, years ago, how to tune out such things.

Plus, there was the fact that she didn't really have a choice in the matter.

She went to the counter and said to the person behind the desk, "Excuse me...I'd like a room, if you'd please."

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, but our rooms are full today."

Cassa frowned and then said, "I do believe that the head of the Merchant's Guild mentioned me."

The innkeeper blinked for a moment, then understood.

"Ohhh! Yes, you're right. He did mention you, indeed. Your room has been paid for, and it is upstairs, first door on the left."

"Thank you very much," Cassa replied and started off.

That movement was stopped when the person added, "Oh...I have a message for you as well."

"A message?"

"Yes, it's from a Guy Cecil."

Guy?!

"What's the message?"

"He says for you to come to the inn on the Kimlascan side as soon as you arrive."

"Thank you. I'll go see him right away."

With that, Cassa left quickly, wondering just what was going on.

00000

It only took about 10 minutes to get from the Inn on the Malkuth side to the one on the Kimlascan end, considering that Cassa had all but ran to the location. Once she saw the Inn, the sign written clearly in the Fonic language, she ducked between a pair of travelers and went inside.

She looked around, seeing that the innkeeper of this place was in roughly the same place as the one in Malkuth, then went up to her.

"Excuse me, would you tell me where Guy Cecil's room is, please? I got his message at the other inn."

"Ah, yes. Upstairs, second door from the left."

"Thank you," Cassa replied and paid the woman for the information before going straight up the stairs. Once she found the door she was looking for, she knocked firmly.

"Who's there?" she heard a voice ask, one very familiar to her.

"Guy? It's me, Cassa."

There was a shuffling of feet, and within a few seconds, the door was open.

"Hey!" He said with a grin, "It's been a while. If it wasn't for my, well...I'd hug you."

She chuckled and replied, "That's okay, I won't antagonize you like that. I got your message at the other inn."

"O-oh yeah. Come on in and sit down," he said, opening the door wider so that she could enter. She pulled a chair over close enough for a friendly chat, yet far enough so that his phobia would not kick in and sat down. Guy closed the door again and locked it, then sat in the other chair with a grateful nod.

"Guy," she said, "It's really sweet of you to come this way, just to meet a friend half-way."

"W-well...that's not why."

"Huh?"

"I-I mean I knew that you were going to Baticul and would be stopping by here in Chesedonia...but..." he trailed off.

"What happened?"

"W-well...a couple of days ago, on Remday, the Dorian General had come on urgent business, and got in some training with his pupil. During that, the manor was intruded on."

"Intruded? That's quite a feat, what with the White Knights."

"Yeah. It was a Seventh Fonist. She used a song to put most of us to sleep, then tried to kill Van. Luke decided to intervene, and this weird thing happened."

Her eyes widened. "A hyperresonance?!"

"Yeah, that's what Van called it. Thanks to that, Luke and the intruder got blown far away."

As un-ladylike as it seemed, she swore under her breath.

"Cassa, I've got a big favor to ask."

"Looks like I'm doing favors for people I know this week..."

"What?"

"My business to Baticul is a state secret."

"Ohh, gotcha."

"What's the favor?"

"Would you mind helping me look for Luke?"

She grimaced at that. "Ugh. You know that spoiled brat and I don't get along."

"I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important."

She was silent for a moment.

"After we find him, we'll go straight to Baticul, so you can take care of your business there."

She let out a breath, then said, "All right. The only reason I'll do it is because you're an old, good friend."

He let out a sigh of relief, then said, "I was half afraid you'd say no."

"I just hope I don't regret this. My birthday Score didn't say anything about any of this."

"Heh. Who knows, maybe it's in that Closed Score."

She shrugged, then said, "I'd rather not disrespect Astor's gesture and leave right away. How about we both get some rest, then set out in the morning?"

"Sounds like a plan."

0000000000

The two of them had decided to leave just before dawn, so by the time that the duo had started crossing Rotelro Bridge, the sun was well into the morning position.

"What made you decide to go on this bridge, instead of taking a ship to Kaitzur?" Cassa asked when they were almost half-way across.

"Well, that's how Van went. No sense in both teams going in one direction, right?"

"Yeah, good point." She shuddered, then said, "I think we'd better hurry across this bridge. Come on, double-time."

He blinked at her for a moment, then asked, "Come again?"

"You heard me. I've got a bad feeling..."

He gulped, "When you get a bad feeling, it means trouble." With that, the two of them broke into a run.

When the pair was almost across the bridge, they had to stop and move to the side, for a coach was running straight down the middle of the bridge, throwing red-colored items. On the end of the bridge that Cassa and Guy were approaching, more of the items were stacked.

"Damn!" Guy said, "Those are Fifth Fonon based bombs."

"Keep running," Cassa snapped, "But get ready to jump overboard at any time."

"Y-Yeah."

Right behind the coach was a huge landship, one that seemed very new, moreso than any that the woman had seen before.

If it's that new...is it the Tartarus?

Cassa slipped her quarterstaff in its place inside her robe, then glanced at the bombs.

The ones at the end were starting to glow, and the landship was beginning to stop.

"We won't make it. Guy, jump now!"

With that order, Cassa put words to action and jumped off the side.

Guy gulped and swung off the side, letting go as he did so.

By the time that they had started swimming towards the shore, the landship had activated a barrier and the bombs on the bridge itself was detonating.

0000000000

After the bridge exploded from the fonon bombs, the commander of the landship, a man in a teal and white uniform with brown hair snapped, "Report!"

"The bridge has been decimated," one of the crew replied, "The coach under the Dark Wings' control managed to escape into Kimlascan territory. The one that you directed to move over is undamaged."

"Ship's status."

"No detectable damage."

"Hm. What I'd like to know is about that man and woman that was on the bridge when this happened."

"I saw them, Commander," the first crewman replied, "They jumped off the bridge and into the ocean moments before the explosion. They swam to shore."

"Hm. Let them go for now," the Commander mused, "We must continue on our mission. Resume course to Engeve."

"Yes, sir!"